Pa.'s 2009 deer season looks promising; ammo shortage is a concern

- There should be less competition from fellow hunters, if a recent trend is continuing.

- Forestry and game officials report plenty of deer sightings.

But hunters had better hope they've already stocked up on ammunition.

"People waiting until the last minute to buy ammo are going to have difficulty finding it," said Michael Kelly, hunting and firearms manager at the Gander Mountain store in Chambersburg.

"There's a big shortage in ammo," said Bill Zeger of Keystone Country Store, Fort Loudon. "The companies didn't make it early enough. They couldn't get a line of credit to build the ammo early."

Tight money, overseas demand for metals, the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and hoarding have been blamed for empty shelf space.

"Since the U.S. presidential election, demand for (ammunition) has risen amidst concerns that the new administration will further restrict the use or purchase of firearms and ammunition and levy additional taxes on these products," Remington Chief Executive Officer Ted Torbeck said in conference call about the company's most recent quarterly report. "Since that time we have responded by ramping up production, providing for additional employee overtime, establishing additional production shifts, and expanding our supply chain, none of which has required significant capital outlay on our part.

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The gross profit margin in the Remington ammunition business was up 36.4 percent in the first quarter of 2009 versus 28.5 percent in the first quarter of 2008. The report was filed in May and the company, which currently is not obligated to file quarterly reports with the federal Securities and Exchange Commission, has not filed one since.

Winchester's earnings more than doubled in the third quarter of 2009, compared to the third quarter of 2008, and were driven by a 22 percent increase in commercial sales, according to company's most recent filing. Military sales were also up.

A box of ammunition is costing about 35 percent more than a year ago, Zeger said. Retailers received notification of price increases five times since October 2008.

Hunters preparing for the season have been skimping. The area's unemployment rate nears 9 percent.

"From what we've seen, the consumer is not spending as big a dollars as last year," Zeger said.

The buyer may opt for a $400 rifle instead of an $800 one, he said, or a $200 scope when a hunter last year may have gone with a $400 one.

Retail traffic indicates that hunters will still be going into the field this fall, bad economy or not, according to Zeger and Kelly.

"Hunting is at the heart of tradition in Pennsylvania," Kelly said. "People will find a way in their budgets to get them outdoors. They may give up going to restaurants a couple of times. Guys find a way to (hunt)."

There are likely to be fewer hunters in the fields and woods for deer firearms season. The number of general hunting licenses in Pennsylvania has dropped about 10 percent between 2004 to 2008, according to Pennsylvania Game Commission data.

That may limit competition for bucks, but it also reduces the number of people to move deer.

Deer have other reasons to stay put. After two years without an acorn crop because of the gypsy moth infestation, the forests are dropping an above average yield of nuts and acorns.

"Deer don't have to move as far," said Michael Kusko, district forester at Michaux State Forest. "It may tend to spread out the deer more. They're not as active."

During bear, deer, elk, and all small game seasons, hunters are required to wear a minimum of 250 square inches of fluorescent orange visible from 360 degrees on their head, chest and back. The Pennsylvania Game Commission 2009-10 Hunting Digest, available online at www.pgc.state.pa.us, includes fluorescent orange requirements for each season.

The Game Commission also offers these safe hunting tips:

- Always identify the target: Never point or shoot at sounds or movement; these may in fact be other hunters.

- Pre-elect a zone of fire: Only fire on a target in that predetermined zone and only when certain it is safe to do so.

- Be seen: Wear the mandated amount of fluorescent orange clothing and avoid wearing blue, white and/or red as these can be easily confused with colors on a wild turkey.

- Plan your hunt, then hunt your plan: Let someone know where you are hunting and when you will return.